James L. Browning Jr.

James Louis Browning Jr. (December 8, 1932 – January 12, 2016) was a California jurist. He served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of California from 1969 to 1977 and later as a municipal, then state judge. He was the lead prosecutor in the sensational case that sent newspaper heiress Patty Hearst to prison in 1976.[1][2]

James L. Browning Jr.
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division
In office
1969–1977
PresidentRichard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Preceded byCecil F. Poole
Personal details
Born
James Louis Browning Jr.

(1932-12-08)December 8, 1932
Globe, Arizona, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 2016(2016-01-12) (aged 83)
Oro Valley, Arizona, U.S.
SpouseLinda Miltner
EducationCalifornia State University, Fresno
University of California, Hastings College of the Law

Biography

Early life and education

Browning was born in Globe, Arizona.[2] He completed his undergraduate studies at California State University, Fresno, and his law degree at University of California, Hastings College of the Law.[3]

Career

Browning was a deputy district attorney for San Mateo County at the time he was appointed by President Nixon to succeed Cecil F. Poole as United States Attorney for the Northern District of California.[4] He served in that position from 1969 to 1977. Notable events Browning was involved in include negotiation and consultation during the occupation of Alcatraz,[5] consultation on whether a statement Groucho Marx made in a magazine interview constituted a threat to the President of the United States, and as a prosecutor in the trial of Patty Hearst, squaring off against defense counsel F. Lee Bailey.[6]

In 1978, he filed to run for California Attorney General,[7] but lost the Republican nomination to George Deukmejian.

Browning later served as a municipal court judge in San Mateo County, California. In 1990, he was appointed to superior court judge by governor George Deukmejian.[8]

He died of complications from a fall in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, Arizona, at the age of 83.[1]

Marriage and children

Browning married a second time, to the former Linda Miltner, in June 1978.[9]

References
  1. Causey, Adam (2016-01-13). "Patty Hearst prosecutor James Browning dies at 83 in Arizona". Eureka Times Standard. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  2. "James Browning Jr., lead prosecutor in Patty Hearst trial, dies at 83". The Washington Post. 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  3. "State Bar of CA :: James L Browning Jr". State Bar of California. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  4. "THE STATE; Reagan May Present $6.5 Billion Budget". Los Angeles Times. 1970-12-03. p. 2.
  5. Johnson, Troy R.; Nagel, Joane; Champagne, Duane (1997). American Indian activism: Alcatraz to the longest walk. University of Illinois Press. p. 173. ISBN 0-252-06653-7.
  6. Fosburgh, Lacey (1976-02-13). "Easy going Hearst Prosecutor; James Louis Browning Jr". New York Times. p. 49. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  7. Shuit, Doug (1978-02-22). "Hearst Prosecutor Browning Enters Race". Los Angeles Times. p. B18.
  8. "Judge Browning named to Superior Court". San Jose Mercury News. 1990-09-11. p. 5B.
  9. "Milestones, Jun. 5, 1978". Time. 1978-06-05. Archived from the original on October 14, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
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